BBC2 have announced their new biopic, starring Aidan Gillen as iconic Irish comic, Dave Allen, is a who’s who of British and Irish talent...
In his lifetime, groundbreaking Irish comic Dave Allen was divisive - hated and revered in equal measure. No subject was off-limits for the brave performer who managed to survive decades of the Roman Catholic Church’s wrath, death threats from the IRA and a ban by both Irish and Australian TV, only to have his television career end in controversy when he used the f-word in an innocuous joke!
With tall tales about how he lost his finger and seemingly drinking whiskey throughout his act (ginger beer!), Dave was actually something of a mystery to the millions who thought they knew him. So it’s with much excitement What's on TV can reveal, today BBC2 announced Dave Allen is getting the biopic treatment in a one-off special called Dave Allen at Peace.
The good news keeps coming - Aidan Gillen, star of Queer as Folk, The Wire and Game of Thrones, has been cast in the title role of the hour-long factual drama, which promises to delve into Dave Allen’s controversial forty-year career.
The film will explore how Dave’s comedy brilliance was shaped by the tragic loss of his father, his brother, John, who he worked with at Butlins as a redcoat… and his finger! The screenplay is by Stephen Russell (We’re Doomed: The Dad’s Army Story, Hattie, and Peaky Blinders) and has attracted an impressive supporting cast. Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones) will take on the role of Allen’s brother, John, Dave’s parents will be played by Tommy Tiernan (Derry Girls, Father Ted) and Joanne Crawford (Line of Duty), and there are cameo appearances from Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet), Pauline McLynn (Father Ted), Ian McElhinney (Star Wars: Rogue One), Simon Day (The Fast Show) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing).
Speaking about the new commission Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two said: “Stephen Russell has written a wonderful script that is surprising, innovative and poignant, exploring the people and forces that went into making Dave Allen the comic genius he was. With Aidan Gillen leading a stellar cast, this promises to be a real treat.”
According to the BBC press release: “The film will be structured in affectionate homage to Dave’s original television format. From his famous bar stool, the comic will reflect on his formative years and showbiz career. Flashbacks, some visualised as comedy sketches, will intercut his bar stool repartee bringing significant moments to life.”
Filming starts this month in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen and RTE are partners on the project.
